Method and apparatus for producing ground articles



April 16, 1929. L. R. HEIM 1,709,348

METHOD-AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GROUND ARTICLES Original Filed Feb. 25,- 1923 3 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR t BYWOMJML ATTORNEY April 16, 1929. P 1.. R. HEIM 1,709,348

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GROUND ARTICLES Original Filed Feb. 23, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mdmm ATTORNEY April 16, 1929. L. R. HE.IM 1,709,348

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GROUND ARTICLES Original Filed Feb. 23, 1923 5 Sheets-sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented, Apr. 16, 1929.

" UNITED STATES PATENT o'rr cnf LEWIS B. 11mm, or DANBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY ME'sNn AssIeNImNTs, To 4-CINCINNATI'GRINDEBS INCORPORATED, or CINCINNATI, 01110, A CORPORATION or OHIO.

METHOD AND APP RA US on rRo'nUCINe CRoU D ARTICLES.

Application filed February 23, 1923, Serial No. 620,654; Renewed June 16,1928.

This invention relates to an art and appa ratus for grinding, and more particularly to an art and apparatus for grinding artlcles of cylindrical form.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide practical grinding apparatus adapted particularly for operation upon articles or objects of cylindrical form, that will be of rugged and durable construction and of,

dependable and efiicient action. Another obj ect is to provide apparatus of the above characte'r that will be capable of producing highly uniform, accurate and reliable results. Another object is to provide apparatus of the above character in which the degree or pressure of contact between the work operated upon and the controlling or regulating element may be regulated or predetermined at will in a simple and thoroughly practical manner, and more particularly to provide apparatus in which the effect of gravitynpon the work may be effectively and practically utilized to bring about whatever degree or pressure of contact between the work and-the controlling element may be desired. An-

other object is to provide apparatusofthe above general nature of great flexibility of arrangement, adjustment and control and of wide range of adaptability to meet with the varying requirements of practical use. Another object also is to provide a simple and practical art of grinding that may be efficientlyand inexpensively carried on in practice and with accurate and uniform results. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts andin the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to' one or more of the others, all aswill be illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of the mechanical featuresof this invent-ion,

the apparatus Figure 4 is adetached fragmentary view ,on an enlarged scale of the work carrier as seen on the line 44 Figure 5 is a in Fig. 4.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 55, Figure 4. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now'to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown at 10 a main frame or standard preferably of substantially hollow construction. throughof Fig. 1; and plan view of the parts shown out in order that certain driving mechanisms hereinafter described may be housed therein, and provided at its right-hand upper portion with ways 11 extending substantially horizontally. Upon the ways 11 is supported a car:

riage 12 for slidable movement thereon, and preferably integrally: formed with the carriage 12 are the spaced bearings .14 in which is rotatablymounted a. shaft 15, the forward end of which asviewed in Fig. 2 is extended i to overhang the carriage 12 and to support what will hereinafter be termed a regulating wheel 16. The regulating wheel 16 may be, and preferably is, composed of a suitable abrasive material, such asemery or the like, for example, and intermediate of the bearings 14 there is mounted 'upon the shaft 15 a pulley 17 by means of-whichthe shaft and its regulating wheel may be rotated.

Considering now the left-hand-upper portion of the main frame 10, it will be seen that this portion of theframe is provided with guiding ways 18'inclined with-respect to the horizontal,

and in Fig. 1 the inclination of the ways 18 to the horizontal is illustratively 'ported a grinding wheel shown as being in the neighborhood of 15". Upon the ways 18 is slidably supported a carriage 19 suitably formed on its under side to coaet with the ways 18 and provided at its lower right-hand end as viewed in Fig. 1 with apair of spaced bearings 20 (see Figs. :2 and in which is rotatably supported the shaft 21. The shaft 21 is extended forwardly as seen in Fig. 2, or to the left as seen in Fig. 3, to provide an endoverhanging the carriage 19, and upon this overhanging end is sup- 22, the operative surface of which is thus positioned for coaction with the regulating wheel 16 hereinabove described. Intermediate of the bearings 20 and upon the shaft 21 is mounted a pulley 23 by means of which the shaft and the grinding wheel may be rotatably driven.

The carriages 12 and 19 may be adjust-ably positioned along their respective ways 11 and 18 for purposes more clearly hereinafter set forth. The carriage 12 may be adjusted along the ways 11 as by means, for example, of the hand wheel 21 operating the screw 25 which is in threaded engagement with the carriage 12. The carriage 19 may be adjustably moved or positioned along the inclined ways 18 by means of a hand wheel 26 which is preferably mounted upon the forward or frontpart of the machine (see Fig. 1) and the wheel 26 is adapted upon manual operation to rotate the shaft 27 (see Fig. :2) upon the inner end of which is mounted a bevel gear 28. The bevel gear 28 meshes with a mating bevel gear 29 secured to the screw rod 30 suitably journaled for rotation at its respective ends in the upper portion of the main frame 10. The screw rod 30 is in turn in threaded engagement 'with an inwardly extending lug or pro ect on 19 on the under side of the carriage 19 so thatupon 7 rotation of the screw rod 30 the carriage 19 manual positioning or with its wheel 22 will be positively moved along the inclined ways 18 and in a direction depending upon the direction in which the hand wheel 26 is rotated. Moreover, it will be noted-that withthe mechanism thusprovided for adjusting the carriage 19 along the inclined ways the carriage will be held by the screw rod 30 in whatever position it is moved, without the necessity of locking the carriage in adjusted position.

In order, however. not only to facilitate the moving of the carriage 19 on the inclined ways 18 but also to avoid tllSCl'tPtUlClGF in ultimate adjustment relative to the remaining or other parts of the apparatus due to back-lash, for example, there is interposed between a suitably formed and ing to move the latter down the inclined ways 18, it being noted that the spring 33 is preferably positioned to act in the line of movement of the carriage 19 along the ways 18. Preferably the spring 33 is of suilicient strength so that it slightly overbalances the tendency of the carriage 19 with its associated parts to slide down the inclined ways 18 so that, for example, in order to move the earriage 19 with its grinding wheel 22 downwardly toward the right'as viewed in Fig. 1, the slightly overbalancing effect of the spring must be overcome through the adjusting mechanism hereinabove described and so that, therefore, back-lash in the adjusting mechanism is taken up and discrepancies in adjustment that would otherwise result therefrom avoided.

Considering now the manner in which the wheels 16 and 22 are driven it will first be noted that in the lower left-hand portion of v the main frame 10 there is rotatably journaled a main driving shaft 34 the outer end of which (see Fig. 2) is provided with a pillley 35 by means of which connection to any suitable source of driving power may be made, and at an intermediate point therein and in substantial alignment with the pulley 23' on the grinding wheel shaft 21 is mounted a pulley 36 connected to the grinding wheel pulley 23 as by means of the belt 37. The main driving shaft 34 is preferably rotated in clockwise direction so that with its driving connection to the grinding wheel 22, the latter will be driven in such a direction that its operative surface will be traveling substantially pulley'23 throughout the movement of the latter with the carriage 19 along the inclined ways 18. there is mounted interioi'ly upon the main frame 10 and to act upon the loose side of belt 37 a suitable jockey pulley 38' in any suitable manner as. for example, upon a swinging arm 38. so as to vieldingly maintain sufiicieut tension in the belt 37 throughout the range of movement of the pulley 23 with the carriage 19 along the inclined ways. An idler 39 i mounted upon a fixed shaft 39 acts upon the tight side of belt 37. At this point it may be noted that the main driving shaft 34 is driven at a speed sufliciently great to give the grinding wheel 22 asurface speed sufficient for effective grinding or abrasive action upon the work. 7 Considering now the preferred manner in which the regulating wheel 16 is driven. it will first be noted that whereas the axis of the grinding wheel 22 is preferably horizontal (see Fig. 3) the axis of the regulating wheel 16 is preferably inclined not only with respect to the horizontal plane as viewed in Fig. 3,

wheel 22 as viewed clin'ation between mounted not only but also with respect to the vertical plane 21 as viewed inFig. 2, but also downwardly as viewed in Fig. 3, all with respect to the forward bearing of the pair of bearings 14.. The

angular relation between the axes of the two wheels as viewed in the horizontal plane (see Fig. 2) or as viewed in the vertical plane (see Fig.3) may; for example, be in the neighborhood of 3.

In the lo'we-r right-hand endof the main frame as seen in Fig. 1, there is'journaled .an auxiliary shaft 40 in substantial alignment with the axis of the regulating wheel shaft .15, and upon this shaft 40 is mounted a pulley 41 which is placed in driving connection with the pulley-17 on the regulating wheel shaft 15 as by 4 43 suitably mounted interi orlyof the main frame 10 and bearing against the belt 42 is a complementary these two cone which may be adapted to maintain this driving connection throughout the range of movement of the regulating wheel ,pulley 17 with the carriage 12 along the ways 11.

Upon the auxiliary shaft is rotatably mounted a cone pulley 44 (see also Fig. 2)

herein illustratively shown as being formed 111 three steps. Upon the main driving shaft 34'tl1ere is mounted tobe rotated therewith cone pulley, generally indicated at 45 and illustratively shown also as having three steps, and interconnecting pulleys is a driving belt 46 placed in driving connection with any complementary pair of steps on the cone pulleys 45 and 44 in order that the speed of rotation of the cone pulley 44 as a unit may bevaried at will. A jockey pulley 47 is preferably provided to insure a good driving connection. At this point it may be noted that the various jockey pulleys hereinabove referred to are merely diagrammati cally shown in the drawings and it will be understood that they may be mounted in any suitable manner in order to yieldingly act upon their respective belt connections.

Interposed between the cone pulley 44 and the pulley 41 is a speed-change mechanism, generally indicated at 48, and adapted to be controlled as by means of the control-rod49 extending forwardly through the front part of the main frame 10 and adapted to be manually positioned as bymeans of the hand wheel 50. This speed-change mechanism 48 may be of any desired form and may, for

example, take the form of that described. in

my co-pending application Serial No. 446,041,

'at a relatively low speed in order means of a belt 42. A jockey-pulley led February 18, 1921. At this point it may be noted that the speed-change mechanism 48 is adapted upon-moving the control rod 49 in one position to interpose between the cone pulley 44 andthe pulley 41 on the shaft 40 suitable speed-reducing gearing in order that the regulating wheel 16 may be driven through the'belt 42 and from the pulley 41 that the work,.which preferably takes the form of cylindrical articles or'objects,'may be uniformly rotated by the slowly traveling regulating surface provided by the wheel 16 during the grinding action thereon by the grinding wheel 22, as

after set forth. Also, the regulating wheel 16 is effective to bring about a continued movement of the work past the grinding wheel 22, as will also be more clearly hereinafter described, and it will be noted that the speed of rotation of the regulating wheel 16 to'vary these actions may be readily adjusted or controlled as by means of the stepped cone pulleys 45 and 44.

Since, however, the wheels 16 and 22 have to be trued orturneddown as, for example, by means of a "suitable abradant, such as a diamond, it is desirable when such truing is brought about to rotate the regulating wheel 16 at a suitably high speed to bring abouta uniform turning down or truing of its surface. When this action is desired to be brought about the controlling rod 49, through the hand wheel 50, is positioned to interpose a different gear ratio between the cone pulley 44 and the driving pulley 41, or in effect to eliminate the speed-reducing mechanism previously interposed therebetween, and thus to permit the regulating wheel at a relatively high speed. The regulating wheel 16, when driven at a speed to control the rotation of the work and also to feed the work past the grinding wheel, is driven in such direction that, with respect to a point intermediate of the grinding wheel 22 and the regulating wheel 16, the operative surface of the latter travels in a direction opposite from that. in which the grinding wheel'surface travels. This same direction of rotation of the regulating wheel 16 may be retained when its' speed is increased as above described to bring about the truing of its surface.

Considering now the means whereby the work is presented to the two wheels, it will first be noted that the grinding wheel 22 is substantially housed-within a suitably formed Y protective casing 51 preferably mounted con- "16'to be driven will be more clearly hereinsubstantially downwardly extending plate "55 integrally formed therewith and adapted to cooperate with a downwardly extending flange 56 integrally formed with the casing 51 so that the carrier frame may be suitably aligned and locked with respect to one of the wheels, as by means of the cap screw 57 eX- tending through the slot 58 in the front plate 55 and threaded into the flanged portion 56.

The carrier frame '54 is extended rearward- 1y as viewed in Fig. 1, or to the left as viewed in Fig. 4,- in order preferably to extend be-- tween the adjacent operative surfaces of the two wheels and both forwardly and rearwardly of the two wheels. The carrier frame 54 is provided with transversely extending posts 59 and 60 preferably integrally-formed therewith and one on each side of the two wheels, as is more clearly shown in the enporting surface 53. The wedge-like larged view of Fig. 5. In the lower portion of the carrier frame 54 is slidably'supported a wedge-like member 61, the carrier frame 54 being suitably recessed throughout its length, 'as at 62 (see Figs. 4 and 5 to provide a guiding way inclined with respect to the supmember 61 may be moved along the inclined guiding way 62 so that its upper supporting surface 61". which is preferably horizontal as viewed in Fig. 4 and parallel to the supporting surface 53 upon which the carrier frame 54 rests, may be moved in a direction substantially transverse to the inclined surface 53, as viewed in Fig. 1'. An adjusting screw 63 threaded into the carrier frame 54 (see Fig. 4)

and manually" rotatable as by the hand wheel 65, is provided with a collar engage the recessed end 61 of the wedge 7 member 61 to bring about such slidable movespectively.

ment at will of the wedge member 61.

Upon the supporting surface 61 of the wedge member 61 is supported what will hereinafter be termed a work carrier 67 provided with slots 68 and 69 extending in the general direction of the posts 59 and 60, re-

Through these slots extend the clamping which are threaded into the posts 59 and 60, respectivelyyin order that the carrier 67 may be locked in adjusted position as determined by the wedge member 61. 2

'lhus.for example, the carrier 67 may rest directly, as hereinabove described, upon the wedge member 61 so that the upper end face or work-siip'porting surface 72 thereof may extend in substantial parallelism with the supporting surface 53, as viewed in Fig. 4,

66 adapted to screws 70' and 71, respectively,

and it may at this point be noted that by reason of the inclined relation of the axis ofthe regulating wheel 16 there will exist 1 betweenthe path of travel of the operative surface of the regulating wheel 16 and the path of travel of the work provided by the surface 72 of the carrier 67 a fixed relative inclination which, as will be more clearly set forth hereinafter, is efiective to bring about. a feed of the work (indicated at 73 in Fig. 4 in the form of rolls, for example) along the carrier and in a direction to the left as viewed in Fig. 4. Since, however,

it may be desirable to vary this fixed in clination in order thereby to change the rate of feed of the work '73'along the carrier, there may be interposed between the carrier 67 and the supporting surface 6150f the wedge member 61 a shim, for example, taking the form of atapered member74 (see Fig. 4) in order to tilt the carrier 67 with respect to the path of travel of the operative sur' face of the regulating wheel 16. The slots 68 and 69 in the carrier 67 permitthis tilting adjustment to be made after which the carrier 67 may be locked in position, as by means of the locking screws 70 and 7 1.

It will be noted, referring now to Fig. 1, that the carrier 67 is mounted upon the lefthand or upwardly inclined faces of the supporting posts 59 and 60. At the upper ends of the posts 59 and 60 are mounted the guide plates '75 and 76, respectively, the plate 75 forming with the upper face 7 2 of the work carrier 67 a V-shaped channel for supporting and guiding the work 73 into operative relation to the operative surfaces of the two wheels. The guiding plate 76, which, like the guiding plate 75, extends within close proximity to the regulating wheel 16, forms with the supporting surface 7 2 of the carrier 67 a V-shaped channel for guiding the work 73 out of operative relation with respect to i the two wheels. As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, the work carrier 67 may be spaced fromits supporting post, as 59 for example, as by the interposition of suitable blocks or shims 77.

i. The carrier frame 54 .is adapted to be adjustably positioned along the inclined supporting surface 53 as viewed in Fig. 1, and turning now to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that there is provided an adjusting screw 78 in threaded engagement in the forward portion'of the rearwardly extending portion 56, upon which the supporting surface 53 is formed. Y The carrier with a downwardly and rearwardly extending lug 79 in which the adjusting screw 78 is rotatably mounted and held against relative axial movement therebetween as by a collar 80 and the hand wheel 81. Thus, referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that manual rotation of the hand wheel 81 is effective to permit movement of the carrier. frame 54 frame 54 is provided the inclined ways 18.-

' speed-change imechanism 48 surfaces of the two '-tially V-shaped guiding channel formed by with its associated carrier67 in a direction substantially coincident with. the direction of The clamping screw 57 serves to lock the carrier frame in its ad justed position.

Considering now the operation of the apparatus and certain of the actions that take place, it may first beagain noted that the regulating wheel 16 and the grinding wheel 22 are rotated in the'directions of the arrows shown in Fig; 1 to provide operative surfaces which travel in opposite directions with respect to the work carrier 67 interposed therebetween. The grinding wheel 22 throu h the driving apparatus hcreinabove descri ed is driven at a suitable grinding speed, and the regulating wheel 16. is driven through the at a relatively low speed in order to control the rotation of the cylindrical work presented to the wheels. The work 73 which may, for example, take the form of rolls, is carried to the operative 'wheels in the substanthe' guiding plate 75 and the supporting surface 72 of the carrier 67 and is thus fed up to the operative surfaces of the two wheels. Upon the work 73 reaching the left-hand end of the guiding plate 75 as viewed in Fig. 4, the V-shaped' guiding channel for the work is continued by the supporting surface 72 and the moving operative surface of the, regulating wheel 16. The work 7 3 is thus supported not only by the surface 72 of the carrier 67 but also in part by the moving surface of the regulating wheel 16 which thus-forms the complement or continuation of the substantiallv V-shaped guiding channel." The work is thus uniformly and constantly rotated and by reason of the relative'inclination that exists between the-path of travel of the operative surface of the regulating wheel 16' and the path of travel of the work 73 as predetermined by the carrier 67 the work is also fed along the carrier 67. During this action the grinding wheel-'22 is operative to effect a grinding action upon the work as the latter is rotated and moved along. As the work emerges from between the operative surfaces of the two wheels the guiding plate 76. forms with the carrier 67 a V-shaped channel for guiding I the work out of operative relation from the two whe els.

During the action that takes place as above described'itwill be "seen that the regulating wheel surface acts in part to support the work for grinding action by the grinding wheel 22 thus make certain a positive control of the rotation of the work, it being noted that a componentof the weight-of the work itself is effective. to urge the work toward, and into contact with, the operative surface of the lating will be a function of to urge the work 73 toward the regulatin carrier 0' is substantially ample, the regulating wheel 16 moreover, may be varied at will and t us the degree or pressure of contact workand the operative surface of the reguwheel may be predetermined as desired. In Fig. 1 of the various adjustments that may be made to bring about a dilferent degree of contact between the 'work and the regulating wheel surface. It may first be noted that the regulating wheel 16 presents an operative surface, the inclination of which to the vertical (as determined by the tangent drawn thereto) Varies progressively from a minimum at a point in the horizontal plane through the axis of the wheel to a maximum at a point in the vertical plane through the axis of the wheel. These points are indicated, respectively at a and b in Fig. 1". At 0 is shown diagrammatically'a work carrier acting with the surface of the wheel 16 to support the work 73 at a point in the operative surface thereof at which the inclination is as determined by the tangent cZ.-e. Assuming that the work carrier 0 provides a work-supporting surface which is substantially radial, the component of the weight of the'work .73 acting to urge the work toward the regulating wheel surface the angle made by the tangent de to the horizontal. and, in effect,

will be proportional to the cosine of the angle edf. c i

As the work carrier 0 is adjustably positioned with respect to the operative surface of the regulating wheel 16 to provide a path of travel for the-work 73 adjacent a point in the operative surface the inclination of which to the horizontal is different, the force acting wheel surface will be changed, and at cthe work carrier is shown positioned so as to preare diagrammatically shown two regulating wheel 16. This com onent,

between the sent the work 73 to the regulating wheel sur- Assuming that the supporting surface of the radial, the component'of the Wei ht of the work 73 now actin to urge the wor toward the regulating whee ,face' at a point where its inclination is de,'.

surface will be proportional to the cosine of the angle e'df', which cosine varies from zero toone as the work 73 is positioned at 311C, cessivepoints from the point a to the'point b in the periphery of the wheel. Accordingly, the work may be urged toward the regulatln wheel surface by a pressure which may be a justedj from zero at the point a to a value equivalent to the total weight of the work 73 at the point 6. i

Turning now to Fig.1 of the drawings, it

will be seen that thework carrier 67 may be adjustably itioned with respect to substantiall a ike portion of the operative surface of t e regulating wheel 16 as is'diagram matically shown in Fig. 1". Thus, for exmay be moved wheel 24, and the grinding wheel22 with its carriage 19 moved downwardly in the ways 18, thus in effect decreasing the inclination of the line joining the axes of the two wheels 16 and 22 as viewed in this figure. The carrier 67 may be adjustably positioned by opcrating the hand wheel 65 (see Figs. 4 and 5) to move the carrier along the supporting posts 59 and 60 and thus to vary the inclination of that part of the operative surface of the regulating wheel that acts to assist in supporting the work 73 relative to the grinding wheel.

Likewise, it will also be noted that the grinding wheel 22 may be moved upwardly along the inclined ways 18, thereby in effect to raise the grinding wheel relative to the regulating wheel, andthat the regulating wheel 16 may be moved to the left along the ways 11 to increase the inclination of the line or plane passed through the axes of the two wheels as seen in Fig. 1. The work carrier 67 may be moved upwardly with respect to the supporting posts 59 and 60 thereby to provide a path of travel for the work along a portion of the regulating wheel surface, the inclination to the horizontal of which is less, thereby to increase the effect of gravity in holding the work against the regulating wheel surface. Thus it will be seen that the wheels and the carrier may be adjusted relatively to one another in effect to swing or move the grinding wheel 22, as well as the carrier 67, through loci that are substantially concentric with the operative surface of the regulating wheel 16, and that these relative adjustments may be made throughout a sufficient range to adjust the effect of gravity or to vary the component of the weight of the work supported by the regulating wheel to any desired value. Thus, referring again to Fig. 1", it will be seen that as the work support is adjustably positioned to change at will the reaction of the regulating wheel surface in supporting the work 73, the grinding wheel 22 may be likewise relatively adjusted in effect to follow up the various adjustments given the work support.

Referring now to Fig. 1 again, it will be noted that the upper supporting surface 72 of the carrier 67 is inclined with respect to the operative surface of the regulating wheel 16. The component of the weight of the work 73 supported by the regulating wheel surface may also be adjusted or varied at will by changing the inclination of the supporting surface 72 of the work support- 67 and in effect this component, which represents the pressure or' force with which the work is ur ed toward theregulating wheel surface or is eld in contact therewith, may be varied throughout a wide range. In Fig. 1 is diagrammatically illustrated the action that results from an assumed change in inclination of the supporting surface 72 of the carrier 67.

Turning now to Fig. 1, the work carrier 67 is the vector TV and, assuming the inclination of;

the supporting surface along the line jk and resolving the vector W into the two components representing the reaction of the car rier 67 and the reaction of the supporting surface of the wheel 16, it will be found that the vector 0-Z represents the component of the weight supported bythe carrier 67 and the vector 0n represents the component of the weight for the force with whichthe work 7 3 is urged toward the regulating wheel surface. Itwill be noted that the component 0-12 is slightly less than the vector W.

Let it be assumed now that the carrier 67 has the inclination of its supporting surface changed from that illustrated by the line j-k to that denoted by the line 2-2'; and

again resolving the vector \V into its re spective components it will be found that the vector 0s represents the component of the weight supported and the vector 0t'will represent the component of the vector \V with which the work is held in contact with the regulating wheel surface! The component o.t, it will be noted, is greaterthan the vector 7, and it will thus be seen that by varying the inclination of the supporting surface of the carrier 67 the pressure or force with which the work is urged toward the regulating wheel surface may be made equal to, less than, or greater than the weight of the work itself.

In Fig. 1, which is a fragmentary front elevation of parts shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the carrier 67 has been inclined with respect to the supporting posts 59 and 60 as by the interposition of a tapered or wedgelike block or shim 82 in order to give the work 73 of the carrier 67 an inclination differing from that shown in Fig. 1 and in order to bring about a variation of the force with which the work 73 is held in contact with the regulating wheel surface as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted, however, that with the arrangement of the carrier 67 as hereinbefore described the carrier 67 may be adjustably positioned as by means of the controlling hand wheel 65 (see Fig. 4) to bring about a change, diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1", and that by combining with such an adjustmenta change in the inclination of the supporting surface of the carrier 67, as is illustrat-ively shown in Fig. 1 and diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1, the ef fects ofthese two adjustments may be combined to permit a pre'dete'rmination to any desired value of the pressure or force with which the work is held in contact with the moving controlling surface of the-regulating wheel 16. Thus it will be seen,v that the bythe work carrier 67,

intimacy of contact between the work. and the moving controlling-surface of the regu lating wheel 16 may be adjusted at will to insure for the varying requirements of practical use a positive control of the rotation of the work while it is acted upon by the grinding wheel and ground to accurate cylindrical form. At this point it may be noted that the frictional contact between the work and the regulating wheel surface niay depend on various factors such as, for example, therate of travel of the operative surfaceof the regulating wheel, the nature of the material operated upon, hereinabove assumed, by way of example, as consisting of hardened rolls such as are employed in roller bearings, the size or diameter of the work operated upon, and friction thereof on the carrier, and various other factorsi By means of the adjustmentshereinabove described the work may be urged toward the regulating wheel surfacev at any desired pressure and thus effective control of,.the rotation of the work is brought about irrespective of the various factors which might otherwise tend to undesirably affect the control of the rotationof the work. Itmay at this point also be noted that the spacing betweenthe operative surfaces or lines of contact of the work with t 1 ese surfaces may be readlly ad usted by ad usting either of the wheels along its respectlve supporting ways and that also the carrier frame 54 on which the carrier 67 is supported maybe i the regulating wheel and during the grind" readily positioned. as by means of the hand wheel 81 at the desired point intermediate of the two wheels. 7

As hereinabove noted, the path of travel of the operative surface of the regulating wheel 16 is inclined relative to the path of travel of the work as determined by the carrier '67 and thus the movement of the work along the carrier 67 may be brought about during the control of'the rotation thereof by ing action thereon-by the grinding wheel 22.

' Moreover, it may be noted that this relative inclination may be maintained, thus to bring (I about the feeding action, throughout the en tire range of adjustmentof the carrier 67 and of the grinding wheel 22 relatively to the operative surface of the regulating wheel and in effect about the axis thereof,'as hereinabove described. Thus an effective feeding action for all adjustments is maintained. Also, as

above noted, the rate of feed thus provided may be varied by tilting the carrier 67 to increase or decrease the existing relative inclination above noted-,athus to vary the rate v of feed at will. Moreover, the stepped conepulleys 44 and 45 ma the rate of drive of the regulating wheel'and thus also to adjust or vary the rate of feed as well as the rate of rotation of the work.

Itwillbe this invention, as well 'as'man the regu also be utilized to vary f is to be understood that all vided for sup lying the wheels with asuitable cooling uid, such as water,for example, as by means of the valve 83 (see Fig. 1)

and that the wheels are suitably encased, the grinding wheel as by the casing 51, and the regulating wheel as by the casing 84, in order thus not only to protect the operators but also to prevent the spraying of the cooling fluid.- The casing 84 in which the regulating wheel- 16 is housed is, moreover,cut away to a suflicient extent to permit the relative adjustments of the two wheels and'the work carrier to be made and which, as hereinabove noted, may be considered as including a variation of the inclination of the line or plane passed through the axes-of the two wheels, as viewed in-Fig'. 1. p I

Associated with each of the wheels are suitable truing devices, indicated in Fig. 1 at 85 and 86, adapted. for truing or turning down action upon the grinding wheel 22andthe regulating-wheel 16, i'espectively- These truing devices or tools, which may take the form of a suitable abradant, such as a diamond, for example, may be controlled or operated by suitable mechanisms, generally indicated at 87 and 88', respectively, take the formof mechanism described in my co-pen'ding application Serial No. 619,373, filed February 16, 1923. In this connection it might at this point be noted that when the regulating wheel is to be trued it is preferably driven at a relatively high speed as disand may conveniently may be brought about, fbr example, as by the speedwhange mechanism 48 controlled by the hand wheel 50, as hereinabove described. A It will thusbe seen that there has been provided in this invention an'art and a aratus for grinding in which the several 0 ects of advantages,

are achieved. It will be seen t at the apparatus is essentially of a thoroughly practical natureand is characterized by a wide flexi bility of control and adjustment in order that an effective and positive control ofthe work maybe exercised to meet the various requirements and cofiditions demanded b practical use. It will', moreover, be notedttiat the degree orpressureof contact of the work with atmg surfacemay be predetermined at will or ad usted so that eflicient and accurate grinding resulting from a positive control of the work by be attained.

As many posible embodiments ma be made of the mechanical featu es of h a V6 5 invention and as the art herein described might be varied in variops parts, all without departing from the scope o the invention, it

the regulating wheel may matter herein set forth or shown in the-accompanying drawings isito be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A centerless grinding mechanism comprising, in combination, a rotary grinding wheel; a regulating support moving at relatively low speed and presenting a peripheral surface having points or lines of possible operative contact with the work, the tangents to said surface passing through such points or lines inclining progressively to the vertical from substantially 0 to substantially 90 the said grinding wheel and said regulating work supportat their work-engaging points travelling in opposite directions; a work carrier positioned between said grinding wheel and said regulating support; and means for adjusting the relations of the said regulating support and the work carrierto change the relation of the work carrier and the regulating support back or forth in the general direction and within substantially the range of the said progressive inclination of the tangents and for adjusting the grinding wheel substantially-at right angles to said direction, toward and from the regulating support.

2. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a grinding wheel, a regulating wheel eoaeting therewith and rotatable at relatively low speed, said wheels being adapted to present adjacent operative surfaces;

- travelling in opposite directions, a work carrier interposed therebetween and having a work supporting surface inclined to the vertical andtoward the operative surface of said regulating wheel to cause a component of the thrust of the grinding wheel on the work to be exerted in a direction toward said regulating wheel, thereby to urge the work against said regulating wheel, and means for changing the inclination ofsaid supporting surface of said carrier to predetermme the magnitude of the said component with which the work is urged against the regulating wheel.

I 3; In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a regulating wheel rotatable at relatively low speed and presenting an operative surface toeylindrieal work presented thereto, a grinding wheel, said wheels being adapted to present operative surfaces travelling in opposite directions with respect to an intermediate point, a work carrier extending between said wheels and adapted to guide cylindrical work along a predetermined path relative to the operative surfaces ofsaid two wheels, and means mounting said work carrier and said regulating wheel relative to one another to permitrelative adjustment therebetween in such manner that their contact with the work may present lines of gravityopposing resistance intersecting at an angle producing a component of reaction on each other and provide for variation of such angle to permit variation of such component by a movement at an angle. to the direction at whichgravity acts.

4. In apparatusof the character described, in combination, a regulating wheel rotatable at relatively low speed and presenting a peripheral operative surface to work presented 'thereto, a work carrier associated therewith justing said wheels and for adjusting said carrier relative -to said wheels to vary the relative positioh of the grinding wheel and the work carrier circumferentially of the regulating wheel, while maintaining the same radial distance between the wheels if this be desired.

' 5. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a grinding wheel, a regulating wheel rotatable at relatively low speed, a work ea rrier extending therebetween and providing a predetermined path of travelfor work relative thereto, said wheels being adapted to present operative surfaces traveling in opposite directions, means mounting said grinding wheel at a greater elevation than that of said regulating wheel and adapted to permit adjustment thereof toward or away from said regulating wheel along a ing wheel rotatable at relatively low speed, a

work carrier interposed therebetween, said wheels being adapted to provide operative surfaces traveling in opposite directions with respect to said work carrier, means mounting one of said wheels and adapted to permit adj ustment thereof toward or away from the other along a plane inclined to the horizontal, and means mounting the other of said wheels adaptedto permit adjustment thereof toward or away from the other along a plane substantially horizontal.

7. In apparatus of the character described,

in combination, a grinding wheel, a regulat-- ing wheel rotatable at relatively low speed, a work carrier interposed therebetween, said wheels being adapted to provide operative surfaces traveling in opposite directions'with respect to said work carrier,'means mounting said grinding wheel and adapted to permit speed, a grlnding wheel,said

adjustment thereof toward or away from said regulating wheel along a plane inclined to the horizontal, and means mounting said regulating wheel and adapted to permit adjustment thereof toward or away from said grinding wheel along a plane substantially horizontal.

8. In apparatus of the character described, inrcombination, a main frame having guiding ways substantially horizontal and other guiding ways inclined with respect thereto, a

, grinding wheel, a regulating wheel rotatable at relatively low speed, said wheels being adapted to present operative surfaces travel ing in opposite directions, a carriage rotatably mounting said grinding wheel and slidablysupported on one of said guiding ways, a

carriage for rotatably supporting said regulating wheel for coaction with said grinding wheel and slidably mounted upon the other of said ways, and a work carrier extending between said wheels and adjustable to substantially accord to the relative adjustments of the points of contact of said wheelswith the work and providing a predetermined path of travel for work relative to the operative surfaces of said two wheels.

9. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a main frame having guiding ways substantially horizontal and other guiding ways inclined with. respect thereto, a grinding wheel, a regulating wheel rotatable at relatively low speed, said wheels being adapted to present operative surfaces traveling in opposite directions, a carriage for rotatably supporting said grinding wheel and slidably mounted on said inclined ways, a carriage for rotatably supporting. said regulating wheel for coaction with said grinding wheel and slidably supported in said substan:

tially horizontal ways, anda work carrier exsubstantially accord to the relative adjustments of the points of contact of said wheels with the work and providing a predetermined path of travel for work relative to the operative surfaces of said two wheels.

10. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a main frame provided with ways inclined to the horizontal, a regulating wheel rotatable at relatively low wheels being adapted to present operative surfaces traveling in opposite directions, a work carrier positioned between said wheels adapted to provide a predetermined path of travel for work relative to the operative surfaces of said wheels, a carriage rotatably supporting one of said wheels and slidably mounted on said inclined ways, means associated with said carriage adapted substantially to'countel-balance said' carriage on said inclined ways, and means for adjustably positioning said carriagealong said ways. I

11. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a main frame provided with ways inclined to the horizontal, a regulating wheel rotatable at relatively low speed, a grinding wheel, said wheels being adaptedto present operative surfaces traveling in opposite directions, a work carrier positioned between said wheels adapted to provide a predetermined path of travel for work relative to the operative surfaces of said wheels, a carriage rotatably supporting one of said wheels and slidably mounted .on said inclined ways, spring means acting upon said carriage to substantially counterbalance the effect of gravity thereon, and means for ad justahl'y positioning said carriage along said ways. v

12. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a grinding wheel, a

regulating wheel rotatable at relatively low means adapted to permit relative adjustment tending between said wheels andad uStabIe to b vary of a ewis R. HEIM.

to provide adjacent operative sur-' 

